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Comparing Muscle Energy Technique and Bowen Therapy for Pain, Movement, and Disability in Text Neck Syndrome

Comparative Effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Bowen Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion, and Functional Disability in Patients With Text Neck Syndrome

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07189351
Enrollment
78
Registered
2025-09-23
Start date
2025-09-30
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-09-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Text Neck Syndrome

Brief summary

This study compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Bowen Therapy on patients with Text Neck Syndrome's pain, function ROM, and posture. Today, text neck syndrome is a growing issue. The majority of us experience this unpleasant condition to some extent. There is no study that has compared the effects of muscle energy technique and Bowen therapy, although they can both be quite effective in helping individuals with text neck syndrome reduce their discomfort, improve their range of motion, and improve their functional impairment. So, the goal of this study was to compare the two treatments' results in order to determine whether one was a better method for treating text neck syndrome patients' discomfort by enhancing range of motion and functional impairment.

Interventions

Participants received a hot pack, followed by Bowen Therapy performed in prone lying position on a plinth. Bowen moves were applied to soft tissues and muscles of the neck and upper back, aiming to reduce muscle tension and pain. Sessions lasted 15-20 minutes, administered on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

OTHERMuscle Energy Technique (Post-Isometric Relaxation)

Participants received a hot pack applied over the neck and upper back area for 7-10 minutes, followed by Muscle Energy Technique in supine lying position. Post-isometric relaxation was used for upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenus, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. A moderate isometric contraction was held for 5 seconds, followed by 3 seconds of relaxation, with 5 repetitions per muscle. Sessions were given on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Sponsors

University of Lahore
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* • Age 18-35 years * Both genders * Using smart phone more than 4 hours per day and pain from last 6 months. * Neck disability index greater than 10. (Seemal et al., 2022)

Exclusion criteria

* • Subjects who had signs of recent surgery. * Whiplash injury or open wounds. * Cervical spine pathologies like radiculopathies, disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, sensory changes in neck region.. * Deformities like torticollis. * Any inflammatory or malignant type of pain.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
DisabilityBaseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and 3-week follow-up after treatment completionNeck disability Index scale (NDI-U) This Neck Disability Index (NDI) scale assesses the degree of perceived pain in neck an the disability status based on daily activities and underlying cervical spine pain. Each section is scored on a 0 to 5 rating scale, in which zero means 'No pain' and 5 means 'Worst imaginable pain'. Points summed to a total score

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026